Operation London Bridge : This Is Exactly Will Happen When Queen Elizabeth II Dies
Nothing in life is as certain as death and taxes, so we must accept that Queen Elizabeth II will die at some point. However, as the world’s longest-reigning monarch, she has raised an entire generation who have never gone through life without her. So what will happen after she dies? When a reigning monarch dies, what protocol is followed?
This plan is dubbed “Operation London Bridge”.
Operation London Bridge was developed in the 1960s and is modified several times a year. Government departments, the Church of England, the Metropolitan Police Service, the British Armed Forces, the media, the Royal Parks, London boroughs, the Greater London Authority, and Transport for London all make a significant contribution to the planning. Some crucial decisions about the plan were made by the Queen herself, while others can only be made by her successor (the current heir apparent is her son, Charles, Prince of Wales) after she dies.
Following the news from the Queen’s doctor, the Queen’s private secretary — currently Sir Edward Young — will call the Prime Minister, currently Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson, and inform him that “London Bridge is down.”
The Foreign Office of the United Kingdom will then notify the 15 governments where the Queen is head of state, as well as the 36 nations in the Commonwealth, an affiliation of independent former colonies where she remains a symbolic figurehead, of the sad news. Once all of the really important people know, everyone else in the UK and around the world will find out — you’ll probably remember where you were when you heard the news for the rest of your life. A news release will be sent to all press outlets at the same time.
An announcement will be made first to the global news agency Press Association and then to the rest of the world’s media at the same time. A footman dressed in mourning garb will walk out of Buckingham Palace and pin a black-edged notice to the gates, as is customary. During this time, the palace website will be transformed into a solemn, single page with the same text on a dark background. A radio alert transmission system known colloquially as ‘Rats,’ which is a wartime alarm, will also be activated. If the Queen dies, the news will be broadcast first on the major television networks, with all BBC channel programs being paused to show the BBC One feed, which will show the news of her death. Newsreaders will be expected to wear black suits and ties that they will keep on hand at all times. Pilots are also expected to announce the death during their flights and all comedy TV shows will not be shown until after her funeral.
Flags will be flown at half-mast across the UK (as they were when the Duke of Edinburgh died), and workers have been rumored for several years that they will be sent home early. While this has yet to be confirmed, the general public has been advised in the last year to work from home whenever possible, so it is assumed that a large proportion of the workforce is already at home.
The UK government advises people not to gather in large or small groups, as well as with family and friends. Furthermore, a two-meter distance between people is recommended, so it is unclear how — if at all — a state funeral for the Queen could take place during Covid-19. The ceremonial traditions for which we have come to admire the British will begin in London. Flags will be flown at half-staff. Church bells will ring throughout the city. Westminster Abbey’s famous tenor bell, which is rung in the event of royal deaths, will be heard; however, Westminster’s bells will be muffled, as they are on most solemn occasions. The Great Tom of St. Paul will also ring.
Also because Queen is the official head of state, the government will be involved. Prince Charles will become King at the moment of her death, but to ensure a smooth transition, all members of parliament will gather to swear allegiance to the new monarch. This was also done in the hours following the death of Elizabeth’s father, King George VI, in 1952.
When a British monarch ascends to the throne, he or she is free to choose their own reigning name. King George VI, Queen Elizabeth’s father, was born Prince Albert and was known as “Bertie,” but he chose the name King George VI after his father, King George V. Elizabeth had a much easier choice because her given name is a tribute to another of England’s great queens, Elizabeth I. Because the first two King Charles were associated with the English Civil Wars, it had been speculated that Charles would choose a different name — perhaps George after his grandfather or Philip after his father. However, it is likely that Charles will retain his given name and ascend to the throne as King Charles III. Although there has been some debate about Charles’ wife’s title, it is possible that she will be known as Queen Camilla.
Previously, it was speculated that Charles would abdicate in favor of his younger, more popular son. Despite all of this, it is likely that Charles will take on the role for which he has waited for the longest of any British heir: He has been the heir apparent since he was three years old. Even before his mother’s funeral, once Charles is proclaimed king, it will be time to get to work. He intends to visit the “home countries” of the British Isles, including England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, to meet with leaders and attend services. Charles will also go out and mingle with the locals.
After Charles returns to London a few days later, the Queen’s coffin will be carried to Westminster Hall in a slow procession from Buckingham Palace. In 2002, 1,600 servicemen and women marched in the procession for the Queen Mother’s funeral, during which Beethoven’s Funeral March was played and a royal gun salute was fired. For several days after her arrival at Westminster, the public will be permitted to visit and pay their respects to the Queen.
If the Queen dies at Windsor Castle or Sandringham House outside of London, the coffin would be moved by road to Buckingham Palace within a couple of days. If the Queen dies overseas, the coffin would be brought by №32 (The Royal) Squadron to RAF Northolt and then by car to Buckingham Palace.
The Queen’s funeral will almost certainly be a national holiday in England. Big Ben’s hammer will be padded, resulting in muffled tones. The Queen will be moved from Westminster Hall to Westminster Abbey for the service, which will be broadcast live, but cameras will not show the royal family’s grieving faces during prayers. The coffin will then be positioned on a gun carriage and pulled by Royal Navy sailors (a tradition started after Queen Victoria’s unruly funeral horses nearly bolted).
As Charles ascends to the throne, William will ascend to the position of heir apparent. He will almost certainly be given the title Prince of Wales, which is traditionally bestowed on the next-in-line to the throne. This would make Kate the Princess of Wales, but because Diana held this title, she may choose another in honor of her late mother-in-law. Will and Kate’s children would be second (George), third (Charlotte), and fourth (Louis) in line to the throne if the Queen died.
According to The Telegraph, the Church of England issued its own funeral guidance last year, explaining that when it comes to services, “sadly, those over the age of 70 and those with an underlying health condition are strongly discouraged from attending in the current circumstances.”
As a result, if government advice is followed, older members of the royal family, including Prince Charles, would presumably be advised not to attend the Queen’s funeral.
The Queen’s death will be followed by a 12-day period of mourning. During this time, the Queen’s body will be moved to Buckingham Palace, and plans for the state funeral will be made. The funeral will be presided over by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Even though there is much speculation about what will happen to the monarchy after Elizabeth’s long reign, the odds are that nothing will change. According to a recent poll, nearly 70% of British people support the monarchy. And, despite the fact that Charles is likely to have a short reign due to his age, the monarchy will continue to grow and modernize as the popular younger generation takes the throne.
What will come as a surprise to the Commonwealth, the voluntary association of independent former colonies that accounts for more than a third of the world’s population, is less clear.
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